Virat Kohli tattoos are quite famous among his fans in India and abroad. Several sports commentators rate Kohli’s body art as a visual autobiography mixed with concepts the cricketer cherishes enough to draw on his skin.
Kohli tattoo collection continues to grow and reflect several aspects of his life in recent years. Let’s explore some of Kohli major tattoos and what each piece of body art signifies for India’s veteran opener.
1. Lord Shiva Meditating Tattoo – Forearm
Kohli has a tattoo of Lord Shiva in a meditating pose on his forearm. The tattoo is one of Kohli’s most talked-about body art in recent years for different reasons. His visible tattoo features the Lord meditating at the forefront of a Mount Kailash background. A water form below the tattoo adds extra quality to the body art.
2. God’s Eye – Left Shoulder
Kohli has a God’s Eye tattoo on his left shoulder. The cricketer’s tattoo signifies the presence of supernatural power watching over his steps. Such a tattoo signifies omnipresence and is one of Kohli’s most popular tattoos.
3. Japanese Samurai – Upper Left Arm
A Samurai warrior features on Kohli’s left arm. The tattoo refers to self-control and discipline. These are some qualities Kohli identifies with as a professional and an athlete. A Samurai tattoo also signifies moral integrity and honour tied to Japanese culture.
4. Monastery – Left Shoulder and Behind Forearm
A monastery also features on Kohli’s left shoulder and extends towards the rear of his forearm area. The symbol is a clear representation of peace and balance. Kohli obviously appreciates this tattoo for its deep significance towards maintaining calm under pressure as a person and professional athlete.
5. Prem – Left Arm
Prem Kohli makes an appearance on his son’s left hand, as the cricketer tattooed ‘Prem’ to recognise his father. The Kohli family have been a strong source of support and inspiration for Virat before he earned fame as a professional player.
6. Saroj – Left Arm
Kohli has ‘Saroj’ tattooed on his left hand, and this text is his mother’s name. Virat’s tattoo is a symbol of his close family bond and how he cherishes being a child of Saroj Kohli.
7. 175
Kohli’s 175 tattoo represents his One-Day Internationals (ODIs) debut cap number for India’s national team. The experienced cricketer tattooed 175 on his arm to signify pride he feels after representing Blue Shirts squads in 50-over cricket for several years. He is one of the Men in Blue’s most-prolific hitters in the format, and continues to deliver at the highest level in this format.
8. 269
269 is the Test debut cap number of Kohli for India’s national red-ball team. Kohli redefined Test batting and on-field leadership for India during his time as a long-format cricket. He retired from the format in May 2024 but maintains this tattoo as a symbol of pride.
9. Scorpio – Right Bicep
Kohli’s Zodiac sign is Scorpio. The cricketer has this sign on his right arm, and this art clearly holds deep meaning for the veteran batsman. Scorpio signs usually signify a determined and passionate personality. The sign aligns with Virat’s intense and focused career path to becoming one of cricket’s top players in the modern era.
10. Tribal Art – Right Forearm
Kohli has a tribal tattoo has been described as a symbol of strength and aggression in recent months. His assertive gameplay and remarkable longevity at the highest level also become part of analytical references to this specific body art.
What is the Choice Tattoo Ink Used for Kohli’s Body Art?
Recent body art upgrades ordered by Kohli use plant or mineral-based pigments, according to reports. Such ink is cruelty-free and contains no products derived from animals.
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Kohli’s Tattoo Artist Sheds Light on His Left Arm Art Restoration and Development
Sunny Bhanushali is Virat Kohli’s choice tattoo artist. The skilled artist recently spoke on Kohli’s desire to revamp fading tattoos on his left arm while adding new concepts to an already-packed project.
“It demanded multiple forms of expertise – each contributing with precision, coming together to build something far more refined than what one style or one hand could achieve,” Sunny said.
Allan Gois is another tattoo artist Kohli trusts, and he recently details processes behind Kohli’s tattoo cover-ups:
“This has been one of the most demanding and meaningful projects we have worked on. We weren’t creating on a blank canvas, we were working with years of history, emotions, and identity already present on his skin,” Gois said.
